textproduct: Amarillo

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1222 AM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026

- Widespread critical fire weather conditions are expected on Sunday due to strong west winds and very dry conditions.

- Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions are forecast most days over the coming week.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Saturday night) Issued at 1222 AM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026

A cool start to the day is expected with temperatures ranging from the mid to upper 30s for the northwest to low 50s across the southeast. Winds, initially out of the north, will become southerly by the afternoon but should only increase up to 10-15 mph. Some elevated fire weather conditions will arise due to the very dry conditions across the region. Highs on Friday afternoon will be very comparable to yesterday, ranging from the mid 70s to mid 80s. With winds out of the south more than the southwest on Friday night, moisture will surge northward and the eastern Panhandles may have the potential for low clouds and potentially patchy fog to start the day on Saturday.

Saturday will feature a relatively similar set-up to Friday, with highs in the upper 70s to upper 80s across the CWA. Winds will be a tad stronger, but only are forecast to be sustained around 10-20 mph. The strongest winds should be across the southwest and western Panhandles, which may see very, very low end critical fire weather during the afternoon. Upper level moisture should increase throughout the day leading to some cloud cover across the region, which will aid in limiting the stronger wind potential. There may be just enough moisture and lift to generate a shower or storm across the northeast on Saturday afternoon. The potential in this scenario panning out is very low and any storms that form will more likely than not form further east in KS and OK. A weak, backdoor front is expected to move over the area on Saturday night only resulting in a light wind shift to out of the north to northeast.

Muscha

LONG TERM

(Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 1222 AM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026

Light north winds to start the day on Sunday should quickly become gusty by the afternoon as a upper level jet streak moves across the region. A leeside low will develop off of the higher terrain on Sunday which will aid in bringing in very dry air once again across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles due to winds being out of the west to southwest. The warm, dry, and windy conditions will lead to critical fire weather conditions once again across the Panhandles. Forecast soundings have been very consistent showing signs that wind gusts could exceed 50 mph across mainly the central and western zones on Sunday afternoon. Certainly cannot rule out High Wind Warning conditions being met as well, but confidence in that scenario is low at this time. A Wind Advisory will almost certainly be needed on Sunday due to the strong winds. Breezy and dry conditions continue to be present on Monday and Tuesday leading to fire weather concerns for at least portions of the area.

Model guidance continues to hint at a H500 low pressure system moving east across the Desert Southwest towards the High Plains in the middle to later half of next week. There has not been a lot of consistency to the track of this system, which is no surprise since it is still nearly a week out. Signals are indicating that this system may bring chances for rainfall to the region, but with how this year has gone so far, it will be a wait and see situation as there are still solutions that provide very little or no rainfall.

Muscha

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1222 AM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026

VFR conditions will continue with this TAF cycle. North winds will continue all night but will decrease down to around 10 kts or less. Winds will turn clockwise and will eventually be out of the south to southwest by mid day. Sustained winds around 10-15 kts are expected for the later half of this TAF issuance with winds becoming southerly to southeasterly towards the end. High level clouds will clear out but low clouds may move in towards KGUY and KAMA near the end or just after this 24 hour period.

Muscha

AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...None. OK...None.